Trump ditches tariffs, says 'framework' Greenland deal has been agreed

21st Jan 2026 21:13

(Sharecast News) - US President Donald Trump said late on Wednesday that he was ditching plans to impose tariffs on European nations that opposed his plans to annex Greenland, as he hailed the framework of a deal on the territory.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that based on a "very productive" meeting, he and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte have formed "the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region".

"This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations," he wrote.

"Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st. Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland."

Trump had announced last weekend that he was planning to impose tariffs of 10% from 1 February, rising to 25% from 1 June, for eight European countries opposing US efforts to acquire Greenland. The countries were Denmark, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Posting on Truth Social on Wednesday, the US President said further information about the framework would be made available "as discussions progress".

"Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and various others, as needed, will be responsible for the negotiations - They will report directly to me. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Speaking to CNBC, Trump said US and European countries would collaborate on the Golden Dome missile system and mineral extraction in Greenland.

"They're going to be involved in the Golden Dome, and they're going to be involved in mineral rights, and so are we," Trump said, adding that the future deal would last forever.

Asked about the tariffs and whether they would still be implemented next month, Trump told CNBC: "No, we took that off because it looks like we have, pretty much the concept of a deal."

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump calmed markets after he insisted that the US has a historical right to own Greenland and called for "immediate negotiations", but ruled out taking the Danish territory by force.

In a lengthy speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the US president said Greenland - which he described as a "big, beautiful piece of ice" - was a "core national security interest" for America.